Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-10-28
BRUCE COLLINS, TRAMP.
BY THOMAS L. MORGAN.

Bruce Collins strobe rather shakily
toward the rusty little depot at the foot
Of the hill. A chilling wind whirled
around the corners and pierced his none
too thick rainment.
Three months before he had left
mother and sister i'll the East to
seek better times in the West.
Upon reaching his destination, his
scanty funds were exhausted before he
obtained Cease" ii, the dirty
Office Of the IHcSte,n World, a
paper great only IN name. 1t was
devoted, so the prospectus said. to
"nromulgating the great truths of Pro-
hibition throughout the length and
breadth of this great nation, and par
ticularly Unison County. No pump
kins OF hoop-polos taken on subscrip-
ton"
For two weeks lie worked faithfully,
putting into cold type glowing edito-
rails on chic Future of the Kansas
''"'tto, w Dib1eI ARC we IJElltluS
and like thrilling subjects.
All OF his wages, except the slice ne
cessity demanded, wore sent to the
dear ones at home.
Then he was Frustrated with ague and
for nearly two months Bruce Collins
was The victim of one of the most ener-
waiting and torturous diseases that ever
cursed poor humanity. When he had
shaken it off he found himself almost
shaken to pieces III the operation
How hard the first days work was to
the sick man, whose cnfeebled frame
felt, ut times, as if il must refuse to per
form its mission
Next morning :, telegram came to
him. 1t read:
Mother is dying Come
Allie was his dear little sister. He
handed the telegram to the editor and,
as the latter read it, Bruce drew on his
cont.
Are you going?" asked the pro-
't''' S5".oI VI SS1cttt tiutnS, cue.
Certainly, Bruce answered, briefly.
But how can you? You have NO
money"
True. but l ''qtst go! Why. man,
don't you understand? My dear old
Mother is dying. aud my sister is call
i for me.
il6 CT or{o,1 to~ l{,o l.,nn
Hold on there!" cried the editor.
You shall not go quite penniless.
Money with me- is like angels visits,
remarkably scarce. but, for all that,
you shall not go wholly without funds.
Here are two dollars. which, in my
present condition, look us big Us two
wagon wheels. Take them. J. only
wish they were two hundred. Take
them, 1 say" as tho other hesitated,
"Ion are not robbing me. / caught 8
subscriber yesterday, and have the
promise of a double quarter adj from
the new general store.
As Bruce was expressing his thanks
for the gift, which, though small, he
knew seemed almost like a little
fortune to the penniless editor, the
devil" very grayely got down from his
high stool, slowly fshed an ink-be
'laubed quarter from his pocket, an6
solemnly handed it to Bruce.
you've got to have it, he said, as
Bruce thrust back the grimy hand
"I've got plenty more"
And although he knew the lad
fibbea, he took the money, after the
boy had threatened to drop it down {
crack in the floor il he refused.
Then he passed. rather weakly, ou
into the keen air. The editor opened
the door and shouted after him:
If you strike anybody who wants te
purchase newspaper, remember thai
the Wester71 World is for sale. BE-
sure to tell him that we've got the
largest bona fido circulation of an,
paper in the district, and that we ex
pect to corrall the county printing"
Then he closed the door and pokei
the fire gravely. and remarked sagely
A kind action is never lost"
"You bet!" the "devil" answered.
Then the editor resumed his seldom
rewarded waiting for subscriber.
The waiting-room of the little depo
was warm, and Bruce edged toward
the stove with shiver of satisfaction
Besides the regular throng Of travel
ers and loungers, there were the mem
bers of the Noupareil Dramatic Com
pany,as they proudly styled Themselves
They had given an entertainment ii